For sale is an original OCTOBER 1943 ISSUE of MODERN SCREEN MAGAZINE featuring Betty Grable on the cover from Dell Publishing Company. The cover photo depicts Betty as she appeared in the film “Sweet Rosie O’Grady”. This 118-page magazine is an overall very good condition but the last four pages and back cover have a large tear. The magazine includes articles featuring Betty Grable, Clark Gable, Shirley Temple and Alan Ladd. A rare Hollywood collectible.
Elizabeth Ruth Grable, born on December 18, 1916, was an American actress, pin-up girl, dancer, model, and singer. Grable began her film career in 1929 at age 12, after which she was fired from a contract when it was learned she signed up under false identification. In 1940, she replaced Alice Faye in Down Argentine Way, her first major Hollywood film, and became Fox’s biggest film star throughout the next decade. Her 42 films during the 1930s and 1940s grossed more than $100 million. Throughout her career, Grable was a celebrated sex symbol. Her bathing suit poster made her the number-one pin-up girl of World War II, surpassing Rita Hayworth. Grable’s legs were insured by her studio for $1 million as a publicity stunt.
Modern Screen magazine debuted on November 3, 1930 and initially sold for 10 cents an issue. By 1933, the magazine was Photoplay magazine’s main competition. During the early 1930s, the magazine featured artwork portraits of film stars on the cover. By 1940, the magazine cover featured natural color photographs of the stars and the issue price was increased to 15 cents per issue. Modern Screen remained a major success through the 1950s but a downturn in movie ticket sales led to a general sales decline in the magazine. In the early 1980s, the rising popularity of general interest celebrity publications like People Magazine marked the end of old-fashioned movie fan magazines. In 1985, Modern Screen ceased publishing.
